Stemming from world-class research
Stemming from world-class research
About us
Renovos, based in Southampton, UK, is commercialising the world-class research undertaken at the University of Southampton and draws on over 50 years of combined expertise in skeletal stem cells, translational orthopaedic research and materials for tissue repair.
This pioneering work is led by our two academic founders:
- Prof Richard Oreffo, professor Emeritus, leader of the Bone and Joint Research Group and Director of the University’s Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration
- Prof Jon Dawson, Research Fellow and technology expert in biomaterials and nanoclays
and supported by the expertise of the whole orthopaedic regenerative medicine research team.
Transforming orthopaedics and regenerative medicine through pioneering use of nanoclay gels stemming from world-class stem cell research
The Team
Dr Agnieszka Janeczek
Co-Founder / CEO
Agnieszka has a PhD in Biomedicine and MSc in Medical biotechnology with a proven regenerative medicine track record, including stem cells, drug delivery systems and nanomaterials, and so brings over a decade of technical expertise to the company. Agnieszka has been supported by the Innovate UK/SETsquared ICURe and Southampton Science Park Catalyst Programmes, enabling her to gather relevant market research, co-found Renovos and define the development and commercialisation pathways for Renovos’ different products. She is passionate about commercialising novel medical technologies. Agnieszka is leading on the business development activities and operations, and oversees the commercial development of our product portfolio.
James Otter
Co-founder / Chairman
James has extensive corporate commercial experience including a range of international management positions with Zeneca Agrochemicals and led a major turnaround while on the board of Spectris plc. Over the last 15 years he has focused on the bioscience SME sector, both as an investor while chairman of Hygea VCT and as CEO of several SMEs focused on imaging, drug delivery, telemedicine and cell culture. James brings a wealth of invaluable start-up, investment, governance and commercialisation experience to Renovos Biologics Ltd., essential to the role of Chairman.
Dr Simon Sinclair
Non-Executive Director
Simon has over 15 years’ pharma and medtech industry experience in translational medicine, clinical development, medical affairs, medical safety, vigilance and real-world evidence, in both people management and governance roles. He has held positions at corporates such as DePuy Synthes, Johnson and Johnson Medical Devices, and Merck & Co Inc. As a NED, Simon brings his extensive orthopaedic product development, evidence generation and commercial expertise to the Renovos team.
Prof Richard Oreffo
Co-founder / CSO
Richard is Professor Emeritus of Musculoskeletal Science and co-founder/Director of the Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration at the University of Southampton. He led a multidisciplinary research group focused on developing strategies to repair bone & cartilage; with translation a key personal driver. His research led to the first 3D titanium bone stem impaction graft operation in the UK.
To achieve these goals, Richard has brought together and developed teams of clinicians/life scientists over the last twenty years and trained 47 MD/PhD students to completion, to date. Over the last 20 years, his group has developed a raft of preclinical models from chick chorioallantoic membrane to murine and sheep models.
Richard has Published >300 peer-reviewed papers – (H index 67; >16,150 citations ISI WoS) including breakthrough publications on skeletal stem cells and nanotopography, bone regeneration as well as epigenetics and hold 6 patents. Richard has received over £25M in funding as PI/co-I in research grant income since 2000. Richard holds a doctorate (DPhil) and a Doctor of Science (DSc) degree, on “Skeletal Tissue Engineering”, from the University of Oxford and was made a Fellow of International Orthopaedic Research (FIOR) in 2019. As CSO Richard is able to leverage his extensive professional network and profile in the field of regenerative medicine and determines scientific direction of Renovos.
Prof Jon Dawson
Co-founder / CTO
Jon leads a research group exploring the application of self-assembling nanomaterials in regenerative medicine, and holds an eight year £2.1M personal fellowship from the EPSRC. Jon has over 15 years’ experience in the field of clay-based applications and is recognised for his world-leading expertise in clay-gel research. He has published widely in journals such as Nature Communications, Advanced Materials, Stem Cells and Biomaterials and is an inventor on three patents. In 2010 he was awarded The Engineer Award for a collaboration with industry and clinicians developing an intra-operative bone marrow stem cell concentration method. He also led the development, in collaboration with Winchester Science Centre, of the award-winning Stem Cell Mountain public engagement exhibit which has now engaged over 600,000 people with core themes in stem cells and regenerative medicine. Jon drives the nanoclay development studies for Renovos.
Michael Harris
Investor / Director
Michael has a PhD in Chemistry and has worked in the Life Science, Pharmaceutical and MedTech sector. He has significant international commercial, product development and manufacturing experience having launched products in both Europe and the US. Prior to Biocomposites, he was CEO at Martindale Pharma, and has previously held senior positions at Ethypharm, GE and Sigma Aldrich.
Dr Lisa Ferrara
Non-Executive Director
Lisa brings over 25 years of experience in orthopaedic medical device innovation and regulatory strategy in the USA. She is managing partner of Hypoid Ventures, LLC, a technology consulting firm. She previously founded OrthoKinetic Technologies and OrthoKinetic Testing Technologies, LLC — two highly successful companies specializing in medical device evaluation, strategic positioning, and regulatory success, which were later acquired. She founded and directed the Spine Research Laboratory at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic Foundation, has authored over 60 journal publications and edited 26 book chapters. She also has numerous patents to her name. Lisa is a member of several healthcare advisory boards and editorial boards of leading orthopaedic and spine journals, including Neurospine.
Patrick O’Donnell
Advisor to the Board
For over 25 years, Patrick has established a successful track record in the medical device, biologics, and biomaterials industries with technologies in the orthopedic, spine, neurosurgery, sports medicine, interventional radiology markets.
As an executive officer of biosurgery and medical device companies, he has created the strategy, built and led the commercial organizations, and raised capital (over $80M) to fund and execute the product development and clinical programs towards regulatory milestones. Patrick most recently served as General Manager and Executive Vice-President of North America for BoneSupport A.B. where he led the commercial operations organization for the Swedish-based local delivery device and drug combination product company in the orthopedic markets. Prior to Bonesupport, Patrick held CEO roles at combination product companies Proteothera, Inc, Histogenics Corporation, Prochon-BioTech, and commercial roles of escalating management responsibility at Confluent Surgical Inc. and J & J DePuy-Spine.
Providing next-generation regenerative medicine
Innovative research has led to spectacular progress in the field of stem cell and biomaterial technologies helping active younger demographics and the world’s ageing populations remain active for longer.